The following section contains information on other legislation outside the European Union (EU) which is of relevance to bisphenol A (BPA).
Despite Health Canada´s science-based conclusion from their risk assessment in 2008 that "Science tells us that exposure levels are below levels that could cause health effects", and "the general public need not be concerned by BPA", in March 2010 the Canadian government enforced a long time pending ban on the importation, sale and advertising of polycarbonate baby bottles in Canada, and works to develop and implement codes of practice to reduce levels of BPA in infant formula as low as reasonably achievable. The ban was enforced after the market for polycarbonate baby bottles had virtually disappeared.
The Canadian Minister of Health had already made clear that all other uses of polycarbonate plastic such as plastic containers, water bottles, sports bottles, sports equipment, electronics, CDs, DVDs and automobiles are safe:
"Bisphenol A does not pose a risk to the general population including adults, teenagers and children. Consumers can continue to use polycarbonate water bottles (including large, reusable 18.9-liter water bottles) and consume canned food and beverages, as the level of exposure from these products is very low."
More information:
On 15 January 2010, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in their updated position on BPA found no evidence of harm to children or adults from the current levels of BPA-exposure, and at the same time provided guidance on how parents can minimise infant exposure to BPA if they choose to do so. The "some concern" about potential effects of BPA based on studies using novel approaches to test for subtle effects, which had been stated by FDA/NHIES in 2008, will be addressed by a specific FDA research program which is already ongoing. In a media news briefing, Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, the principal deputy commissioner of the drug agency, stated "if we thought it was unsafe, we would be taking strong regulatory action".
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